Jiji Press has learned that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s latest white paper is expected to cite survey results from the ministry showing that the number of people who consider mental stress to be the biggest health risk has tripled compared to 20 years ago.
According to an outline of the 2024 white paper, which is scheduled to be released later this month, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare points out that it is important to address mental health at every stage of life.
The white paper mentions that the number of patients visiting hospitals for mental illnesses such as depression, adjustment disorder, and eating disorders rose to approximately 5.86 million in 2020, and that stress factors are becoming more diverse, including online slander, work, childcare, and elderly care.
The white paper presents the results of a ministry survey of several thousand people, in which 36.4% of respondents cited lifestyle habits leading to lifestyle-related diseases as the biggest risk to their health, followed by mental stress at 15.6%.
The percentage of respondents citing mental stress has more than tripled since 2004, when it was 5.0%.
On the other hand, 36.5% said that their family members have a positive influence on their mental health. People who live alone are more likely to have a positive influence from trusted friends and acquaintances.
The ministry has set a goal of training 1 million people to support people with mental health problems in their communities and workplaces by the end of fiscal 2033.
